Electric circuit control means



y 1938- J. L. STRATTON 2,119,406

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROL MEANS Filed Sept. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor": Jerry L. Str tton,

is W x- 6. 8

Attorne gy 31, 1938- J. L. STRATTON 2,119,406

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROL MEANS Filed Sept. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 All Inventor: Jerry J... Stra ton,

H is Attorney.

Patented May 31, 1938 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROL MEANS Jerry L. Stratton,

General Electric New York Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to Company, a corporation of Application September 14, 1985, Serial No. 40,622

My invention relates to electric circuit control means, and more particularly to electric-tube means for controlling a power characteristic of an electric circuit or a dynamo-electric machine.

Heretofore, there have been proposed numerous electric circuit control means for alternating and direct current circuits. These prior arrangements when used to maintain a predetermined power characteristic of the alternating current circuits, frequently have required the use of numerous devices which due to the complex nature and the involved arrangements have been subject to inherent limitations as concerns the field of application and the precision of control and regulation obtained. In many instances, as in the case of systems using relatively high frequencies, it is desirable to maintain a predetermined power characteristic, and it is frequently desirable to accomplish this regulation in a comparativeiy short interval of time. This requirement necessitates the use of a relatively quickacting system and one which is simple and reliable in operation.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved electric circuit control means for alternating and direct current circuits.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved regulator and regulating system for alternating and direct current circuits.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system of power regulation for alternating and direct current circuits which is responsive to the rate 01 energy flow through the circuit to maintain the rate of energy flow at a predetermined value.

A further object of my invention is to provide a system of power regulation which is responsive to the rate of both positive and negative energy flow within alternating current circuits.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a power regulating system for dynamoelectric machines whereby the power output of the machines may be maintained constant or within predetermined limits. For a better understanding of my invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates one embodiment of my invention as applied to an arrangement for maintaining a predetermined power characteristic of an electric circuit, and Fig. 2 diagrammatically represents a modified embodiment of my invention as applied to an arrangement for controlling an elec tric circuit in response to a predetermined power condition of an alternating current circuit and in response to the direction of energy flow therein.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, 1 have illustrated an arrangement embodying my invention for controlling the power supplied by an alternating current generator I to a load circuit 2. The generator i is provided with a field winding 3, which is energized by a self-excited exciter 4 through a direct-acting rheostatic regulator 5 having variable resistance elements 6 connected in series with the field winding 3. While any type of rheostat may be used, I have shown a variable resistance device of the type disclosed and claimed in co-pending patent application Serial No. 743,849 of Louis W. Thompson, filed September 12, 1934, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. It will also occur to those skilled in the art that other means, such as electronic-tube means now known in the art. may be used for energizing the field winding 3 without departing from my invention in its broader aspects. A no-load voltage adjusting rheostat C is provided to be inserted in series relation with variable resistance elements 6 and field winding 3 by means of relay 1 when the generator I is disconnected from load circuit 2 by switch I. The rheostatic' regulator is illustrated as having a core member 9, an armature member ll for actuating an arm ii to effect movement of the variable resistance members 6. and differentially associated energizing windings l2 and II.

To obtain an electric quantity proportional to the power characteristic of the circuit 2, I employ electric valves II and i5 of the type having cathoda I! and I1, anodes I. and II, control grids II and 2|, screen-grids 22 and 23, and suppressor grids 24 and 25, respectively. The general combination of valves of this type to obtain an electrical quantity proportional to the power of a circuit is disclosed and claimed in U. 8. Patent No. l,869,209 granted July 26, 1932 upon an application 0! Milton S. Mead. Jr.. and assigned to the assignee of the present application. Excitation for the control grids II and ll of electric valves i4 and I5 is obtained by means of a current transformer 26 connected in series with the load circuit 2 and resistance elements 21 connected across the output terminals of transformer 26. One terminal of the current transformer it is connected to the control grids through a conductor 2|. Adjustable connections with taps 21' are provided on the resistance elements ll and a connection is made from a selected tap to cathodes l6 and H by means of conductors 28 and 30. A number of resistance elements 21 of various values are provided to afford a means for controlling the magnitude of the voltage impressed upon thecontrol grids 2. and 2|. It will be apparent that by selecting amounts of power. It will be understood that the potentials impressed upon control grids 20 and. 2| will be in phase. Suitable means, such as resistance and capacitance circuits 20' and 2|, may be used to impress a negative bias on the suppressor grids 24 and 25 of electric valves l4 and I5, respectively. An auxiliary source of direct current may be employed to obtain this bias if desired. To obtain electrical variations proportional to the voltage of circuit 2 for the excitation of screen-grids 22 and 23, I employ a transformer 3|, having a primary winding 32, and secondary windings 33, 34 and 35. The upper terminal 01' transformer winding 34, as viewed in the drawings turned on its side, and the lower terminal of windings 33 are connected to screengrids 22 and 23, respectively, through blocking capacitances 22" and 23", and resistances 22 and 23" respectively. The resistances 22' and 23' are provided with adjustable taps or terminals to permit adjustment of the magnitude of the voltage impressed upon the respective screen-grids. The suppressor grids 24 and 25.01 electric valves l4 and I5, respectively, are arranged to have a potential substantially the same as that of the cathode. However,it will be well understood by those skilled in the art that the suppressor grids may be connected to have any potential less positive than the respective anodesto obtain the desired output characteristic of the respective electric valves. The other terminals of the transi'ormer windings "and 33 are connected through conductors 34 and 33' to the left-hand terminals oi differential windings l2 and I3 of the rheostatic regulator 5. The right-hand terminals oi the windings l2 and I3 are connected through conductor 1" to the cathodes of electric valves l4 and I! through a blocking condenser To provide a means for amplifying the output currents of electric valves l4 and I5, I employ electric valves 31 and 38 having anodes 39 and 43, cathodes 4| and 42, and control electrodes 43 and 44, respectively. The anode circuits of valves l4 and I! are connected through resistances 45 to the control electrodes 43 and 44, respectively. The conventional grid biasing capacitances 46 are connected between the respective cathodes and control electrodes. An auxiliary source of direct current 41 is provided, by means or a fullwave rectifier and filter circuit 55 energized from any suitable alternating current source illustrated as an auxiliary alternating current supply circuit 56, to apply a positive potential between the respective anodes and cathodes of electric valves I 4 and I5. The negative terminal of this auxiliary supply is connected through conductor 30 to the cathodes of electric valves I4 and I5 and the positive terminal is connected through conductor 48 to the mid-point of resistance 43 which is connected between the anodes of valves l4 and i5. Since the electric valves l4 and I5 are so arranged that they operate to furnish an electrical quantifler 50 is of the conventional type and is used to provide a source of direct current across terminals 5| which automatically varies with changes in the potential of the circuit 2. By means of adjustable tape of resistances 52 and 53, the bias necessary to maintain a predetermined ampliflcation may be impressed upon control electrodes 43 and 44 of electric valves 31 and 38, respectively, through conductors 48 and 54. It will be understood that this compensating circuit arrangement is used in the illustrated embodiment because the anode voltages for the amplifying valves 31 and 38 are obtained from the source 2, the voltage of which is variable since the power output of the generator is being regulated. If, however, a source of constant voltage were used as the energizing source for the amplitying valves 31 and 38, it would be obvious that such a compensating arrangement would not be necessary.

The operation of the power regulator may be best understood by considering the arrangement when the alternator i is supplying energy to the load circuit 2 being inductance and resistance, the switch 8 being closed and the relay 1 being energized to short circuit the no-load voltage adjusting rheostat 6. Under these conditions the field excitation of the alternator, and hence the voltage of the alternator, will be controlled by the power regulator arrangement to maintain a predetermined power output of the alternator I. A positive potential is continually impressed upon the respective anodes of valves l4 and I! by direct current source 41 through resistance 42. Electric valves l4 and I5, by virtue of the inherent characteristics of this type of valve which may have a screen-grid and a control grid, will be rendered conductive when the potential impressed upon the screen-grid is positive even though the potential of the control grid may be negative. As long as the potential of the control grid does not exceed a critical negative potential, the screengrid will be efiective to render this type of valve conductive or non-conductive. In this particular embodiment of my invention, the circuit is arranged so that the potential of the control grid does not fall below this critical value. In the operation of such an arrangement, a decrease in the negative bias on the control grid, with the anode and the screen-grid at potentials positive relative to the cathode, will be effective to increase the anode voltage. Let it be assumed that the potential of the lower terminal of winding 33 of transformer 3| is such that the potential of screen-grid 23 of electric valve i5 is positive relative to the associated cathode ll. At this point in the cycle of operation a negative potential will be impressed upon screen-grid 22 of electric valve 14. In other words, the control grids 20 and 2| of electric valves I4 and !5, respectively, are connected so that the potentials impressed upon them are in phase and the screen-grids are connected so that the potentials impressed upon them are electrical degrees out of phase. During that part of a half cycle in which the voltage impressed upon the screen-grid 23 is positive, electric valve l5 will be conductive. If the load being supplied is inductive so that the current lags the voltage, it will be apparent that the potential will reverse in polarity before the current, in which case the potential impressed upon the screen-grid 23 will be reversed in polarity and valve l5 will be rendered non-conductive. However, since the potential impressed upon screen-grid 22 of electric valve i4 is 180 degrees out of phase with the potential impressed upon screen-grid 23 of valve tional to the positive volt-amperes of circuit 2, IS, the electric valve M will be rendered conducand further since electric valve ll furnishes a tive at this particular point and will remain concurrent proportional to the negative volt-amperes ductive so long as the potential of the screen-grid of circuit 2, the differential effect of these two 5 22 remains positive relative to cathode l6. As currents may be utilized to obtain regulation re- 6 soon as the current reverses polarity the potensponsive to the true power supplied to the circuit tial of control grid 20 will become more nega- 2. The rheostatic relay is adjusted to control tive relative to the cathode and the current variable resistance elementsi to maintain the deconducted through electric valve M will be resired power output of generator I. In other 10 duced to a relatively small value during the rewords, the rheostatic regulator 5, which is responl0 maining part of the negative half cycle. It will. sive to the differential effect of windings l2 and therefore be apparent to those skilled in the art l3, and hence responsive to the true power. is that under the conditions assumed, electric valve adjusted to control the effective resistance of IE will furnish an anode current, a component of elements 6 and to maintain constant the power 16 which is proportional to a function of the posioutput of generator I. It will, therefore, be untive current and the positive voltage of circuit 2, derstood that during each cycle valve ll will furand valve ll will furnish an anode current a comnish one pulse of current to winding l3, and ponent of which is a function of the positive valve M will furnish one pulse of current towindcurrent and the negative voltage of circuit 2. In ing II. If the true power supplied by the gen- 20\ other words, the output or anode current of elecerator l to circuit 2 increases, the increased en- 20 c valve 5 i D D t0 the positive voltergization of winding I! will cause the armature amperes or the positive power characteristic of II) to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to alternating current circuit 2, and the output or cause an increase in the effective resistance of anode current of electric valve i4 is proportional elements a and a resultant decrease in generator to the negat ve VO D Or the ega ve voltage and output. If the true power output of 25 power characteristic of alternating current cirth generator falls below the value to be u cult 2. The difierence in the anode currents of tained, the reverse operation will take place reelect ic valves 4 and 5 5, Of u p p o suiting in a decrease in the effective resistance of to the true power or the watts of alternating elements 6 and consequently resulting in an incurrent circuit 2. Electric valve 38 will amplify r e i generator voltage and output. If it be 30 the output current of valve l5, resulting in the su ed th t th e i a variation in the lagging eherglzfltloh o winding ll of the Theo-static quadrature current supplied to circuit 2, and if it regulator The Circuit through which the Q be assumed that the voltage of the alternator p current fl is from cathode 41 thr h remains constant, there will be a variation in the 85 ductor 1". relay w ndin w s of rheoenergization of the individual windings l2 and 3 static regulator 5, conductor 33, transformer 13 of the h t t relay 5 but the t ww d n 33 a d conductor to anode of valve tion or the differential efiect of the windings will 3!. Similarly. the output current of electric remain substantially the same, so that there will valve l w l be p fie y electric Valve 31, be no variation in the excitation of the field 40, and the output current of valve 31 will flow winding 3 of generator I and the true power out- 4 th ough the follo circuit from cathode 4|, put of the generator will remain substantially the conductor 1', relay winding 1, winding l2, consame, ductor ll, transformer winding 34 and conductor Although there has b h w in th partic- 34" to anode 39 of valve 31. Variations in the embodiment of my invention mmm in anode potentials of va 31 and 33 will he 6031- Fig. 1, an arrangement including electric 45 pensated for by concomitant variations in the valves 31 nd 3B for amplifying the output 8 d b as occasioned y Vaflfltlohs in the Voltage currents of valves i4 and I5, it will readily occur I of source ii of the volt g mu t s chcuit to those skilled in the art that I may energize 5|. the windings l2 and i3 of the rheostatic relay di- Let itbeassumed that the true power output rectly from electric valves 14 and IS, in which so en rat r I exceeds t amount which the power case the amplifying valves 31 and 3a and the voltre ulatin y t 15 adjusted maintain, and let age compensating circuit 50 will not be necessary. it be assumed further that th electric valve 15 It will also occur to those skilled in the art that is conductive by virtue of the screen-grid 23, bem-y-pgwer regulator may be readily modified t H8 p i relative the cathode Dul'lhg out departing from my invention in its broader 55 h s P Of the Cycle the Output current anode aspects to maintain any one of a variety of power current of valve l5 will increase, e u t in all conditions in an alternating current circuit or in increase in the voltage impressed upon control a di t current ir t, lectrod of valve 39, thereby causing an In Fig. 2 there is represented diagrammatical- 00 crease in t e u pu current of ampllfylhg Valve ly another embodiment of my invention as applied ll. This increased curre t flow through Wlhdto a system for controlling alternating current ing l3 of the rheostatic regulator 5 will cause an circuits in response to t magnitude and direcincrease in the flux in core mem e 9 tending tion of power transfer. An alternating current to rotate the armature ID in a counterclockwise d i cuit 51 is energized from an alternating direction, resulting in an upward movement of current supply circuit 58 through a, switching 65 am II and occasionins an i r in the fmeans 59 having tripping means indicated by an fective resistance of the variable resistance eleactuating oll so and plunger 6|, Th coil 60 ments 6. T e cu e t through the generator may be energized from any suitable alternating field winding 3 will be decreased. cc mp n or direct current source such as circuit 62 The thereby a educt o n generated o e a d thus switching means 59 may be arranged to discon- 70 a re c n in power p F r the p rp f v nect the supply circuit 58 from the load circuit 51 S mp y the efiect of y one cell 0 zin response to predetermined power conditions ing winding of the rheostatie relay has been conobtaining in the supply circuit. An arrangement sidered. It will be readily understood that since of electric valves 63 and 64 and associated excitathe electric valve 15 furnishes a current proportion means similar to that described in connec- 75 average output current of electric valve 64 exceeds the average output current of electric valve 63, the potential drop across the resistance l'l will be in the opposite direction to the voltage of the source of direct current 2. This condition will result in a decrease in the negative bias voltage impressed upon the control electrode 68. On the other hand, when the circuit 51 supplies energy to circuit 58, the average output current of electric valve 63 will exceed the average output current of electric valve 64. Under these conditions, the potential drop across the resistance 11 will be in the same direction as the potential of source 82, thereby increasing the negative bias voltage impressed upon the control electrode CI of valve 65.

Ii it be assumed that the circuit 51 is supplying energy to circuit 5| or, in other words, that there has been a reversal in the direction of energy flow between these circuits. the potential drop across resistance 11 will be in the same direction as the voltage drop across resistance 11 causing thereby an increase in the negative bias impressed upon control electrode 68 and a consequent decrease in the output current of electric valve 65. It will be readily understood that upon reversal of direction of energy flow between circuits 5'! and 58, the output current of electric valve 65 will be reduced to a relatively small value by virtue of the increase in the negative grid bias. Due to the reduction in the energization of coil ll of current relay 69, the pivoted arm 12 will be rotated in a clockwise direction by spring I! to cause the engagement of movable contact I4 with stationary contact 16, thereby effecting energization of actuating coil 60 ct switching means II and disconnection of circuit 51 from circuit SI.

While I have shown and particularly described certain embodiments 01' my invention for the purp se of explaining its principle and showing its application, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications are possible without departing from my invention in its broader aspects, and I aim, in the appended claims, to

cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent oi the United States, is:

1. In combination, a dynamo-electric machine having an armature winding, a field winding, a rheostatic regulator and an exciter for energizing said field winding through said regulator,

power responsive means including two electric valves each comprising an anode, a cathode and at least two control electrodes, means for impressing upon corresponding control electrodes oi' each valve in-phase potentials proportional to the current in said armature winding and for impressing upon the other corresponding control electrodes of each valve potentials proportional to the voltage of said armature winding and displaced relative to each other 180 electrical degrees, one of said valves being connected to provide an average anode current proportional to the positive power characteristic of said armature winding and the other of said valves being connected to provide an average anode current proportional to the negative power characteristic of said armature winding, said rheostatic regulator being differentially responsive to the currents provided by said electric valves to control the energization of said field winding to maintain a predetermined power output of said dynamo-' electric machine.

2. In combination, an alternating current generator having a field winding and an armature winding and a rheostatic regulator in the field circuit, an alternating current circuit energized by said generator, an exciter for energizing said field winding through said rheostatic regulator, a power responsive device including two electric valves each comprising an anode, a cathode and at least two control electrodes, means ior impressing upon corresponding control electrodes of each valve in-phase potentials proportional to the current in said armature winding and for impressing upon the other corresponding control electrodes of each valve potentials proportional to the voltage of said armature winding and displaced relative to each other 180 electrical degrees, one of said valves being connected to provide an anode current proportional to the positive power characteristic of said alternating current generator and the other of said valves being connected to provide an anode current proportional to the negative power characteristic of the alternating current circuit, said rheostatic regulator being provided with two differential actuating elements arranged to be energized respectively by said anode currents and arranged to control the resistance of said rheostatic regulator to maintain a constant power output oisaid alternating current generator to said alternating current circuit.

3. In combination, an alternating current circuit, a dynamo-electric machine having a field winding connected to said alternating current circuit, an exciter for energizing said field winding through a rheostatic regulator, a power responsive device including two electric valves each comprising an anode, a cathode, a control electrode, a screen-grid and a suppressor grid, means comprising a current transformer and a resistance for impressing upon said controlelectrode of each of said valves in-phase potentials proportional to the current of said alternating current circuit, means comprising a potential transformer for impressing upon the screen-grid of each of said valves potentials proportional to the voltage of said alternating current circuit and displaced relative to each other 180 electrical degrees, means for impressing upon the suppressor grid of each of said valves a potential less positive than the associated anode, one of said valves being connected to provide an anode current proportional to the positive power characteristic of said alternating current circuit and the other of said valves being connected to provide an anode current proportional to the negative power characteristic of said alternating cur rent circuit, means for amplifying the anode currents of the first-mentioned valves comprising two electric valves each comprising an anode, a cathode and a control electrode, an auxiliary source of direct current for impressing upon the anodes of the first-mentioned electric valve a positive potential relative to the associated cathodes, means for controlling the potential of the control electrodes of said second-mentioned valves to compensate for variations in the potentials impressed upon the anodes of said secondmentioned valves, and means responsive to the output currents of said amplifying means for actuating said rheostatic regulator to maintain a predetermined power characteristic of said alternating current circuit.

JERRY L. STRA'I'ION. 

